We actually saw the aluminum Roket last summer when Ghost first added the idea of a backcountry adventure hardtail to their RO AMR & H AMR full suspension bikes. But at the time, Ghost was just talking of adding a Pinion gearbox version of the 27.5+ bike. They’ve since made it available as a mid-season 2017 bike, decked out with the same custom bikepacking bags made for them by AcePac.
Roket X Pinion gearbox, hardtail backcountry adventure mountain bike
The Roket X starts with the same aluminum, plus size frame & 2.8″ rubber as the standard Roket, but gets a special bottom bracket casting to house the 12 speed Pinion C1.12 gearbox for backcountry reliability. It does have a standard Boost thru-axle rear end (like the original RO AMR, now H AMR X), so it uses a bottom bracket mounted chain tensioner, which seems to us a bit perilously exposed vs. locating it either at the dropout or even along the chainstay.
The backcountry bike is available in a single spec for 3500€ with a 130mm RockShox Yari RC fork, Guide R brakes and a KS Lev dropper. Of course outfitted for adventure, the bike includes a 15mm thru-axle, Boost-spaced SP front hub dynamo, paired to Tout Terrain’s latest The Plug USB charging top cap so you can keep your electronics running far from home.
The Roket X also gets the same AMR family bikepacking bag system, here custom shaped for the three standard hardtail frame sizes.
In fact, the bags actually are included with the bike standard (except in the US & Canada, sorry.) That includes a saddle bag (designed to slide over the dropper post), a half frame bag, and the handlebar roll, with detachable bar top bag.
